2/5/09 Greenwich Post News Links

Planners approve a 10-year strategy for town

Following 18 months of review, the town’s future involves establishing and changing current zoning regulations to better protect the community, providing an overall vision for the downtown area and improving traffic in town. Approved Tuesday night by the Planning and Zoning Commission, the plan incorporating these ideas and others, known as the Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD), recommends an implementation committee be created within 90 days of its approval by the Representative Town Meeting (RTM).

McAbee named new publisher of Time

According to a press release from Hearst Newspapers, Michelle R. McAbee, currently general manager of the Hearst-owned Brooks Community Newspapers, will take on additional duties of publisher of The Advocate in Stamford and Greenwich Time. Brooks publishes the Greenwich Citizen, among other weeklies in Fairfield County.

Ham Ave students to move in this month

Anger turned to elation for the Hamilton Avenue School community Tuesday when Superintendent of Schools Betty Sternberg reversed course and announced students will be moving into the new school building this month.

Librarians die in car crash

Book and library blogs, and even networking sites across the Internet are abuzz this week with writers posting their thoughts about last Wednesday’s accident that killed Perrot Memorial Library Youth Services Director Kathleen Krasniewicz and its children’s storyteller, Kathryn McClelland.

Court may soon unseal Smith case

Greenwich Probate Judge David Hopper granted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by the Post last week, pending a review by federal authorities. Judge Hopper decided to make public the bulk of the transcript of the probate hearing upholding Jennifer Hagel Smith’s $1-million settlement with Royal Caribbean International, after allowing the FBI and Department of Justice (DOJ) 60 days to review the records.

The Smith probate hearing, held last May, was closed to the press and public.

The Post had asked Judge Hopper to unseal the transcript on the probate appeal of Ms. Hagel Smith’s settlement, reached after her husband, 26-year-old George A. Smith IV of Greenwich, went missing on their 2005 honeymoon cruise. The settlement had been appealed by Mr. Smith’s parents, George III and Maureen. They challenged Ms. Hagel Smith’s out-of-court agreement so they could file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of their son against Royal Caribbean. The Smiths are further appealing Judge Hopper’s upholding of the settlement in Stamford Superior Court.

At the FOI hearing, the Post asked Judge Hopper to unseal the transcript of the Smith probate appeal because the information it contains “is necessary to cover the highly publicized case fairly and accurately.” The Post cited legal precedents for open court proceedings under the First Amendment and state and federal statutes.

Judge Hopper had initially cited a need for confidentiality because of future lawsuits in the case.....

Exhibit highlights talents of autistic teen

There have been many exhibits of student work in the Greenwich High School Media Center through the years, but none quite like the show put on by Christian Parrotta.

Police, officials urge ‘safety zones’ for children

Seeking more protection for children, Greenwich police and community leaders are seeking approval to create zones around areas such as parks and schools where registered sex offenders would not be allowed to enter.

Police Watch

APPEAR

Albert Berrios, 27, of 56 Bertolf Road, Riverside was arrested Feb. 4 and charged with second degree failure to appear. Police said Berrios turned himself in on an outstanding warrant for failure to respond in court to a May 22, 2006, charge of driving with a suspended license. Berrios was released on a $1,000 surety bond and is due in court Feb. 11.

PROBATION

Travis Felder, 29, of Norwalk was arrested Feb. 4 and charged with violation of probation. Greenwich police were instructed by the state probation office to take Felder into custody and he reportedly turned himself in after being informed of the warrant. Felder was released on a $5,000 cash bond and is due in court Feb. 11.


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